Chapter 14NassGANDA ko talagaā¦ I turn one more time as I take a cautious look at myself in front of the mirror. My gosh, parang walang kapaguran ang araw na ito para sa akin. I had spent the entire day with Caine. From the training school down to the restaurants and famous pastry houses, and lastly to Rechelās condo, I never got so much of those good times before.Masaya naman ako na kasama ang mga magulang ko pero ewan ko ba. Parte si Caine ng buhay ko mula nang magka-isip ako kaya nang mawala siya sa pamilya namin, parang hindi na rin ako nakumpleto.And now, wearing one of my unworn dresses I found in my wardrobe, I couldnāt hide the smile and the joy that filled my entire system, or not just my sytem but my soul, my mind and my mostly ā my heart. Caine finally invited me for a dance tonight. He told me to wear something not too exaggerated but I grabbed my fiery red sweetheart cocktail dress that barely reached my mid-thighs. Rechel fixed my hair into a messy ponytail and curle
Chapter 14.1NassPlaying the song : I Don't Want to Miss a ThingWALA akong ginawa sa loob ng sasakyan kung hindi ang magkwento kay Caine ng kung ano-ano. Simula nang umalis siya at hindi nagpakita ng anim na taon, lahat iyon ay sinabi ko sa kanya. He just kept on listening and never said anything. He smiles, nods and most of the time, gazes at me through the rearview mirror. He was like that until we reached the restaurant.Pagkababa namin ay kaagad niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko at hindi iyon maluwag. He has that grouchy face and I want to giggle. Ang sungit niya talaga.āGood evening! Any reservations for tonight?ā the crew asked but his eyes settled on my face.āCaine Walker,ā Caine arrogantly replied.Agad na nalipat ang atensyon ng lalaki kay Caine, na para bang hindi iyon makapaniwala sa sinabing pangalan. The man outrightly bowed his head a bit. āIām sorry Major General Walker, this way to your tables,ā the crew's face was blanched.I canāt believe this. My golly, I think the
Chapter 15CaineI stare at my own reflection in front of the mirror. What is this Iām feeling? I canāt even explain this. This is new, totally odd.Nassandra is sending my different waves of emotions that were truly indecipherable. I know she loves me and I know how much I mean to her, but I kind of feel different when she tells me that she loves me. Holy cock! May maligno na siguro sa Walla Walla kaya ako nagkakaganito. Oo, may malignong Nassandra. Iāll die finding out this unacceptable occurrence in my life. Para akong tanga! Daig ko pa ang bulag na nangangapa sa dilim. My heart keeps on hammering inside my chest at some unexplainable things. Tumitig lang ako sa kanya, kumakabog na ang dibdib ko. Am I drinking too much coffee or taking too much caffeinated drinks to experience these palpitations?This is weird. I had never felt any fear or any drumming of my chest during war, but this heart literally convulses just because of a teenage girl who happens to be like my own daughter?
Chapter 16NassāUGGGHH, Goliath, stop licking my cheek,ā I groaned when the dog started licking my face. I feel so dizzy and terribly sleepy. Mag-aalas dos na kami umuwi nina Caine pero heto at ginigising pa yata ako ng kambing na ito. Ang sakit ng paa ko kasi hindi ko tinigilan si Caine na isayaw ako. Ngawit na ngawit na nga ako kasi ang tangkad niya pero hindi ko ininda. And I was totally sated. I left him on the dance floor. He kept on cursing when he was driving home and said heād never dance with me again.He couldnāt do that. Iām his princess. Hinalikan ko lang siya sa pisngi kaya tumigil siya sa pagsasalita.But now, hereās his naughty dog. āArf! Arf!ā Goliath barks!Sus naman! Bakit naman boses ng tao ang kahol ng aso ni Caine?āGoliath, out!ā I commanded in an overbearing tone.I pointed to the door with my sleepy eyes.āI donāt want to. I miss you, lady.ā Boses dwende na si Goliath.Ano ba āyan? Marahas kong kinamot ang ulo ko. Am I taking drugs to hear this dog talk? N
Chapter 17NassBUNTONG-HINGA habang naglalakad ako papunta sa aming designated room, kung saan may preliminary orientation kami. Kahapon pa pala ang e-mail na natanggap ko, pero masyado akong nakalimot.I am still on time. Kuya Andi rushed me here. Hindi pa siya nakuntento at bumaba pa siya sa sasakyan, siya ang naghahanap ng aking classroom.I looked at my brother. He was in front of me, busy scanning the doors here. Lots of women are busy scanning him, too. Who will not? Napakagandang lalaki ng kuya ko. Magkaiba kami ng mukha pero napakagwapo niya. Malaki rin kasi ang hawig niya sa nanay niyang maganda, sindikato nga lang.I have a very heavy heart today. Why didnāt Caine stay at home to spend the day with my family? Bakit para siyang umiiwas? Bakit gano'n siya? He never visited us. He was so distant.I never noticed that Kuya Andi stopped. Bumangga ako sa braso niya dahil naka-side view na pala siya. He was looking up at the door, and then looked me.āWhatās the matter, baby?ā kun
Chapter 17.1NassPASIMPLE kong tiningnan si Caine. Heās finally home. Inakbayan siya kaagad ni Daddy. Lumabas kami ng bahay habang ako naman ay yakap si Rechel sa braso.I smiled when I saw the preparation outside. This feels like home. I feel like crying. The last time we had Caine in a dinner like this was more than 5 years ago.āKumusta āyong pagpunta mo sa school kanina?ā biglang tanong sa akin ni Rechel kaya nabaling sa kanya ang atensyon ko.āIt was good. You know what, my professor is so beautiful. Para akong natotomboy, Rech,ā bulong ko.āGaga,ā natatawa niyang batok sa akin, āMay mas gaganda pa ba sa mukha mo?āāMeron nga kasi. Ang ganda niya sa lahat ng anggulo. Hindi siya maharot na tulad ko.āāHindi naman porke hindi maharot ay maganda na. May mga gano'n na minsan nasa loob ang kulo parang volcans.āI furrowed. Volcans?We looked at each other and both laughed.āVolcano!ā I giggled.Nakakalimutan ko ang sama ng loob ko kapag ganito. Oo, masama ang loob ko dahil ang hirap
Chapter 19NassI FEEL so really sad again, looking at my parents leaving with Andi.āBye, sis,ā si Kuya ang huling nagpaalam sa akin, saka ako hinalikan sa may tainga, tapos ay bumulong siya.āKuya is always willing to listen when everything turns rough, ha,ā he reminded me again, and it was enough reason for me to look up at him with a smile and nod.āI know, big brother. Thank you,ā I kissed him on the lips.Agad siyang nagpahid ng bibig at sumimangot kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.āDaddy o, ayaw ni Kuya pa-kiss!ā I immediately called Dad to have a backup.āAndi,ā Dad warned when he looked back, āMagpa-kiss.āNapahagikhik ako dahil parang dismayado si kuya na itinulis ang nguso. I kissed him again and hugged him.After that, he rumpled my hair before turning away.āBabye!ā Kaway ko sa kanila saka ako nagpahid ng imaginary tears ko, but the truth, naiiyak talaga ako.They all waved at me until they were out of my sight. I saw Caine, walking toward me. Siya ang naghatid kina Mommy
Chapter 19CaineI POCKETED my hands and sighed, pursing my lips at the same time.A lucky bastard was giving my Nassandra a handkerchief. I wanted to tersely walk toward him and grab his collar, but I controlled myself. I just inhaled deeply as I watched them. Humakbang ako, isang hakbang pero tumigil din ako.I looked away. This is not fatherly jealousy. Kahit hindi pa ako ama, alam kong hindi ganito ang selos na nararamdaman ng ama sa lalaking nagpapansin sa anak. This jealousy is the kind of jealousy that kills. And what's my right to do that? I don't have any right. I am a dirty old man.Muli ko silang tiningnan. Nag-uusap na sila. Nassandra refused to accept the handkerchief but they were talking now, and I immediately tilted my head when I felt a hand on my shoulder.Nakangiting mukha ni Sue ang nakita ko.āYou never told me that you were already a Dad,ā She said.āSheās my niece.āāNiece? Hindi naman kayo magkahawig,ā natatawa pa niyang sabi.I just didn't bother answering tha